Updated NXT TakeOver: New York match card (SPOILERS)

A new NXT TV episode and tapings have given us a prospective card.

So, after last night’s NXT TV episode and yesterday’s tapings at Full Sail, we now know a lot more about what to expect when NXT returns to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 6 for Wrestlemania week’s TakeOver: New York. And since tickets are sky high on the secondary market (most seats in the first section above the floor going for more than $500 after fees), it seems like a good time to explain what all the funds are for, and how the black and yellow brand will look to stand out during a packed week.

Of course, as the headline states, this is chock full of spoilers. So proceed at your own risk.

After Ciampa’s injury and surgery, Triple H put five of NXT’s best (Cole, Aleister Black, Velveteen Dream, Ricochet and Matt Riddle) in a number 1 contender’s match at the start of the March 13 NXT TV tapings. Cole won, and will go toe to toe with Jonathan Wrestling in the (likely) main event. This could be the match of the weekend, considering the stip and the combined ring IQ of the combatants. Cole reportedly declared he will be victorious because of his Undisputed Era teammates, which is oddly transparent.

The only official-official (announced on WWE.com) match so far was announced during a backstage segment airing during the March 13 NXT TV episode. Cathy Kelley told the champ that William Regal’s decided that Baszler will face all three of the top competitors who have been gunning for her title. This appears to be a punishment for Shayna’s interference in Belair and Shirai’s number 1 contender’s match from that same night.

Ricochet and Aleister Black vs War Raiders (c) for the NXT Tag Team Championship

Yes, we live in a weird world, but during the March 13 tapings, the right team won in the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. That’s right Black and Ricochet beat ... some dudes I already forgot about, to get the right to challenge Hanson and Rowe for the tag titles. Should be wild, but there’s not much story here, and they’re all babyfaces at the moment.

Matt Riddle vs Velveteen Dream (c) for the NXT North American Championship

During the March 13 tapings, to be aired as NXT TV in the coming weeks, Velveteen Dream told Matt Riddle that yes, the Original Bro would indeed get a shot at the North American Championship that he was so curious about at a previous episode. Expect a serious clash of styles.

and this is where the record scratch sound effect would be played

WALTER vs Pete Dunne (c) for the WWE United Kingdom Championship

Here’s a match that may not have been on your radar, in a spot where you probably expected a bout I’m going to talk about next. At the Feb. 23 NXT UK tapings, Johnny Saint announced that this match — Dunne’s first 1-on-1 on a U.S. TakeOver since he and Tyler Bate wowed the Chicago crowd — would be on TakeOver: New York. You might be surprised to find out, as this note isn’t in all reports for that event, but it’s in enough places (including this F4W/WON post) to make it seem like it’s happening.

But what about Keith Lee vs Dominik Dijakovic?

If you, like me, expected to see a rematch from these titans on the TakeOver New York card, you’re probably a bit disappointed at the fact that Lee and Dijakovic’s names weren’t in the NXT 3/13 tapings. That being said, NXT advertised a match between these two for the 3/20 TV episode, so maybe a backstage-taped segment will push the plot forward on this.

Except for the early days of TakeOvers (which mostly took place at Full Sail), these shows typically have only five matches, so it may be pushed to the Barclays’ pre-show taping, to be aired during the April 10 NXT TV episode. All that said, though, this match may not be a title fight like all of the above, but if it’s anything like their BOLA 2017 match, it would deserve a spot on the main card.